Washington: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House on Friday to sign a deal on rare minerals. However, his meeting with US President Donald Trump quickly turned chaotic in front of the global media inside the Oval Office.
Before the heated exchange, Zelensky, dressed in his signature casual attire, was questioned by a reporter about his choice of clothing. "Why don’t you wear a suit? Do you own a suit?" the reporter asked, prompting laughter from Trump, US Vice President JD Vance, and other senior officials in the room.
"Do you have a problem?" Zelensky shot back. The reporter responded, "A lot of Americans have a problem with those who don’t respect the dress code of the Oval Office." Zelensky then replied that he would wear a suit after the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in 2022, concludes. "I will wear a suit after this war finishes, yes. Maybe something like yours, maybe something better. I don’t know, we will see. Maybe something cheaper. Thank you," he said.
Trump joined the conversation, adding that he "liked" Zelensky’s clothing. This wasn’t the first time Zelensky wore his signature outfit; he had previously worn it during meetings with other world leaders and even during his 2023 address to the UN General Assembly.
On social media, many users referenced billionaire Elon Musk, one of Trump’s closest allies, who has attended cabinet meetings in a T-shirt and baseball cap. "What was Elon Musk’s excuse for wearing a T-shirt to a cabinet meeting and a hat?" one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another user posted a photo of Musk at Trump’s first cabinet meeting on February 26, dressed casually in a T-shirt, jacket, and a "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) cap. "WHY doesn’t THIS guy wear a suit?" the user asked.
"No one has the right to comment on President Zelensky’s outfit when Elon Musk is allowed into a Cabinet meeting in a T-shirt and baseball cap! Why don’t they ask Elon if he owns a suit or why he never wears one!" another user commented.
The Trump-Zelensky Clash at the White House
Donald Trump’s first meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky since returning to power in January began with pleasantries but escalated into a fiery argument within minutes. The meeting started with handshakes and smiles but turned tense when Vice President JD Vance emphasized the need for diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, which began after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion three years ago. Vance accused Zelensky of not being "thankful" for US support, prompting a heated exchange.
Trump backed his vice president during the argument and later posted on social media that Zelensky "can come back when he is ready for peace."
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